Lynne Delaney is ready for any creative adventure that comes her way from traveling the world as a flight attendant for TWA to dazzling in Tinseltown.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone more “hometown Westchester” than Lynne Alana Delaney. Born into a growing family that settled on the corner of Loyola and 83rd when she was just two-years-old, Lynne’s roots in the neighborhood are deep, genuine and enduring. Her story, told with equal parts nostalgia and humor, feels less like a Hollywood origin tale and more like a love letter to the community that raised her.
As she steps into the “third act” of her life’s story, Lynne reflects on a journey shaped by resilience, serendipity and creative purpose.
Act One: A Star Is Born
While Lynne was born in Manhattan Beach, her earliest memories include Loyola Village Kindergarten with Mrs. Donaldson and eight formative years at St. Anastasia under the watchful eye of a formidable Sister Superior. But it was a twist of fate in high school that would set her on a new path. After two years at St. Bernard High School, her parents planned a move and informed the school she wouldn’t return. When the move fell through, her spot was gone.
Cue the teenage tears and angst.
She transferred to Westchester High for her final two years—initially devastated, but ultimately grateful. There, she found not only new friends and Friday night football games, but also her creative spark. Theater and art classes, absent from her Catholic school experience, opened a door she hadn’t known she needed.
But the arts had always pulled at her. From rhythm class at age three (a precursor to today’s Gymboree), to being crowned May Queen at Westchester Park, to starring in “The Proud Princess” at age 7, where she had to cry on cue, Lynne was already learning the language of performance.
She credits her creative drive and strong sense of purpose to her parents. Her father worked in the garment industry, and her mother was in fashion design before devoting herself to raising the family. Their blend of artistry and discipline laid the groundwork for Lynne’s own goal-driven path.
Act Two: The Sky’s the limit
After high school, Lynne set her sights on the Pasadena Playhouse Theater Arts program with her parents’ full support. But in true Hollywood fashion, the school closed its doors just as she was ready to enroll. Too late to apply elsewhere, she pivoted to Santa Monica College, where fate intervened again: she met her future husband Ruben Roberto Gomez. They would later transfer to UCLA, where they graduated together, setting the stage for a new chapter.
In the early 1980s, the newlyweds were living in a rent-controlled Santa Monica apartment, dreaming of a home. A Westchester friend in real estate suggested they return to her old neighborhood. For Lynne, it was a full-circle moment and conveniently close to LAX, where she was working for TWA.
What began as a summer job between her junior and senior year at UCLA blossomed into a 30-year career.
“Flying becomes more than just a job—it’s a lifestyle,” Lynne says. “The adventure, the camaraderie, the travel, it never gets old.”
With a flexible schedule of about 12 flying days a month, she balanced her love of travel with other pursuits, often jetting off on weekend getaways with her husband in tow.
Her fascination with flight began early. At 15, on a high school photography trip to Europe, she cornered the flight attendants in the galley and grilled them about the job.
“I was hooked,” she laughs. “I couldn’t wait to turn 20 and apply.”
Act Three: lights, Camera, Reinvention
Even while flying the skies, Lynne never lost her love for acting. She worked in local theater and commercials over the years, but it wasn’t until later in life that she fully embraced her artistic calling.
“It’s a tough business,” she admits. “When I was younger, I didn’t have the connections and honestly, I don’t think I would’ve wanted to attempt it then.”
Today, she proudly calls herself a “working actor” in Hollywood. She’s shared the screen with legends like June Lockhart, Sally Kellerman and Jean Smart, and worked under the direction of Woody Allen. But her proudest moment? Writing and directing her own film, “The Remake,” based on her self-published novel. The story follows two former co-stars whose offscreen romance ended badly—art not imitating life, as Lynne stars opposite her real-life husband of 49 years, Ruben. They’ll celebrate their 50th anniversary next July 4th.
“We made it on a shoestring budget,” she says. “But it was one of the most valuable experiences of my life. It was like four years of film school rolled into one.”
When she’s not acting, Lynne works as a stand-in and double for other actresses—particularly tall, blonde, mature women like herself. Her most recent ongoing role came about unexpectedly: she was filling in for a friend who had been standing in for a well-known actress, and, as fate would have it, Lynne ended up being a closer match in size and appearance.
“I felt terrible,” she admits with a laugh. “But it turned into a steady gig. It’s fascinating. As a double, you’re on set all the time. You see how scenes are lit, how sets are built, how every detail matters. It’s made me a better actor and a more patient one.”
She’s learned that multiple takes aren’t always about the actors.
“Sometimes it’s a lighting issue, or a camera angle, or a prop that needs to be handled just right. Understanding that has given me a whole new appreciation for the crew and the process.”
Curtain Call
Lynne and Ruben remain active in the industry and their union, attending committee meetings, industry events, and SAG-AFTRA screenings. But their days begin and end close to home, often with a walk through the neighborhood or a visit to Chase Park in the Marina with their beloved Shih Tzu, Samantha.
From busgirl to stewardess to actress filmmaker, Lynne Delaney’s life has unfolded in three acts—each one distinct, each one driven by curiosity, courage and creativity. Her journey reminds us that the most extraordinary stories don’t always begin in faraway cities; sometimes, they take root on the corner of Loyola and 83rd, nurtured by grit, grace, and a whole lot of heart. Now in her third act, Lynne is still embracing the spotlight, still learning, still creating and she’s not ready to take a bow just yet.
By Sylvia Wilson. Photo by Zsuzsi Steiner.